We have so many things going on with UNLV Athletics entering the middle of October. Of course, there is our big rivalry football game tomorrow up at Reno. Next Friday, basketball practice officially starts with us giving you a unique Runnin' Rebel Experience at the Fremont Street Experience. Here's a quick update on a few things you need to know:

Battle for the Fremont Cannon on Cox Cable 96 this Saturday

This Saturday's 4 p.m. PT rivalry football game at Nevada, Reno will be broadcast live in Las Vegas on Cox Cable 96. A special thank you to Wolf Pack AD Cary Groth for working with us to make this happen. When taking this job just 21 months ago, one of the first things I was asked about was getting our rivalry game from Reno on TV as I was informed it had not been carried in recent years. Thank you to Cary, Steve Schorr from Cox Communications and Eric Kovak from UNLV IMG Sports & Entertainment Properties for making this possible.

The Runnin' Rebel Experience at Fremont Street Experience next Friday

Excitement is in the air for Runnin' Rebel basketball this October. Make your plans now to join us at the Fremont Street Experience next Friday, Oct. 14 for the Runnin' Rebel Experience during Runnin' Rebel Weekend. If you are a Runnin' Rebel fan, you are not going to want to miss this event to welcome home coach Dave Rice and meet his team for the upcoming season.

And make sure you are not late for the 7 p.m. PT program which will feature our new coaching staff, the players and our special guest - former Runnin' Rebel coaching legend Jerry Tarkanian. Festivities start at 6 p.m. and it's free. Autographs from the players will follow and different games and activities will be available for fans of all ages.

A special thank you to Jeff Victor and his team with the Fremont Street Experience for hosting us and helping us to produce this terrific show. This is going to be a unique experience - the giant screens make for an amazing environment - and you don't want to be left out. Bring the entire family down to help us kick-off Coach Rice's first season as only Las Vegas can. Let's Run.

Get Your Runnin' Rebel season tickets today

There is nothing like being a season ticket holder for a sports team and now is a great time to join the ranks as a season ticket holder for UNLV Runnin' Rebel basketball. Season tickets start as low as $105 for our 17-game home schedule at the Thomas & Mack Center and great lower level seats are still available. Don't be left out this season. Call (702) 739-FANS (3267) or visit UNLVtickets.com. Our first exhibition game is Nov. 1 with Opening Night set for Nov. 11. Let's Run.

Nation taking notice of "Let's Run" marketing campaign

There is something special about this year's "Let's Run" marketing campaign for Runnin' Rebel basketball - and we aren't the only ones taking notice. Last week, ESPN.com highlighted the campaign in its College Basketball Nation Blog. If you have not seen some of the elements, click these: "Let's Run" commercial, "Run this Town" video, autograph poster. It's top notch stuff and this is just the beginning as we have fun things planned throughout the season.

Sr. Associate Athletics Director D.J. Allen and Assistant AD of Communications Andy Grossman led the charge with our team and a group of amazingly talented fans who used their professional talents to help create the campaign. A special thank you to Justin Weniger and his Wendoh Media team, Wolf Muchow and the Oog Oog team and Josh Meeter. It's amazing the passion that exists for UNLV Athletics and we have tapped into some brilliant creative minds that have helped us tell the story of Dave Rice's program and Runnin' Rebel basketball.

Rise 'n' Shine with the Lady Rebels next Saturday, Oct. 15

Coach Kathy Olivier and her Lady Rebels will kick-off the new season on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 11 a.m. PT with their annual Rise 'n' Shine practice event for fans at the Cox Pavilion practice facility. Fans are encouraged to attend and gain a preview of the 2011-12 team, participate in a question and answer session and possibly shootaround with the team based on time.

Following the conclusion of the event, the Lady Rebels will be available for pictures and autographs on the Cox Pavilion concourse before attending the 1 p.m. UNLV volleyball match. Youth basketball teams in attendance will have the first opportunity to sign-up for the Nov. 19 Lady Rebel Tune-up Clinic. Spots for the free clinic are limited, so teams are highly encouraged to RSVP and arrive at Rise 'n' Shine early... Rise 'n' Shine is FREE for all Lady Rebel fans, so Get Your Reb On and come out and support your team. For additional information about the event, or to RSVP your basketball team, please contact Brezya Rhodes at (702) 895-3041 or via email at brezya.rhodes@unlv.edu.

Season tickets for Lady Rebel basketball start at just $75 and kids 12-and-under are always free. Call (702) 739-FANS (3267) or visit UNLVtickets.com. The season starts Nov. 7.

Scarlet & Gray Scrimmage at Thomas & Mack on Oct. 16

Runnin' Rebel Weekend will conclude on Sunday, Oct. 16 with the Scarlet & Gray scrimmage for the Runnin' Rebels at 6 p.m. PT at the Thomas & Mack Center. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. This will be all about basketball on Sunday night. It will be a quick workout and scrimmage with very minimal "show" elements. We hope to see you at the Fremont Street Experience on Friday night to have some fun and at the Thomas & Mack Center on Sunday night to check out the guys on the court.

Rebel Reading Challenge kickoff event this Monday

Nearly 7,000 fourth and fifth graders from 30 Clark County School District elementary schools will be on the campus of UNLV at the Thomas & Mack Center on Monday morning for a special kickoff event for the Rebel Reading Challenge. The program is a great partnership with SuperPawn, UNLV Athletics and the CCSD's School-Community Partnership. Classes at the participating schools will compete to see which class can read the most pages. The winning fourth and fifth grade classes win a trip to a UNLV men's basketball game and a classroom pizza party, as well as other prizes.

Monday's event is going to special for all involved. It will include our coaches, student-athletes, local celebrities, media members and education leaders. Some of the objectives from the event are to:

Use the platform of college athletics to stress the importance of reading to young students and get them excited to compete in the Reading Challenge.

Bring young students - many from at-risk schools - to a university campus and challenge them that they can be here one day as students at UNLV.

Introduce them to UNLV Athletics at a young age.

A very special thank you to Carol Ciocca from SuperPawn as well as her PR guru Melissa Warren for helping to make the event possible - as well as the great group from the CCSD's School-Community Partnership.

UNLV Women of Excellence Athletic Fund

This weekend will feature a special reception - hosted by Dominic Marrocco - celebrating the new UNLV Women of Excellence Athletic Fund. The fund has been developed to strengthen UNLV's women's sports programs and to provide opportunity for female student-athletes in their pursuit of excellence academically, socially and athletically. The goals are simple:

To generate funds for UNLV women's sports programs to assist in the enhancement of each sport.

To provide the UNLV female student-athletes with personal and professional development.

To enhance community awareness of UNLV women's athletic programs.

Congratulations to Sr. Associate Athletics Director Dr. Lisa Kelleher and her team for putting this program together. It will make a difference. For more information on getting involved or donating, please call the Rebel Athletic Fund at (702) 895-1533.

UNLV Letterwinners Tailgate Reunion - SAVE THE DATE

All former UNLV student-athletes are invited to join us for the UNLV Letterwinners Tailgate Reunion on Saturday, Nov. 5. This is a chance for all past Rebels to reunite with old teammates and friends. The tailgate starts at 5:30 p.m. prior to the homecoming football game vs. Boise State (kickoff is 7:30 p.m.)

Make a $50 donation to your sport through the Rebel Athletic Fund and you and a guest will receive admission to the tailgate plus a game ticket. Additional tickets within this package can be purchased for only $10. A regular game ticket begins at $22.

-OR-

Purchase a standard Letterwinners ticket for $20 per person and receive admission to the tailgate and a game ticket.

The tailgate will be located in the Rebel Experience (southeast side of Sam Boyd Stadium). Please RSVP by Wednesday, Nov. 2, to andrea.alires@unlv.edu or call (702) 895-1237. We hope to see you there. Go Rebels!

"Streetcar Named Desire" opens tonight

Brackley Frayer - from UNLV's Theatre Department - does a great job with UNLV Athletics as our Faculty Athletics Representative. With that in mind, the Nevada Conservatory Theatre's season begins tonight with the production of "A Streetcar Named Desire." It shows Oct. 7-16 at the Judy Bayley Theatre. Season pricing starts at just $95 by calling (702) 895-2787 and will include "A Christmas Carol" this December. Call for individual ticket prices as well.

Thank you so much for your continued support. Please remember to ATTEND UNLV games, WEAR Rebel gear and TELL others about UNLV Athletics. We appreciate all you do. Get Your Reb On!